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NAV’s main task is to get more people into work and activities, to create a well-functioning labour market, provide the right services and support at the right time, offer a good service adapted to the needs of the clients and to be a wholesome and efficient labour and welfare manager.  

Joakim Lystad has been NAV’s Director between 2010 and 2015. He took the helm from NAV’s first Director, Tor Saglie.

NAV manages one third of the state budget through a range of different measures like sick pay, pensions, cash support, child benefit and more.

Since 2006 NAV has been under construction, and 110 new NAV offices were established in 2007. In 2008-09 another 160 offices were opened and today there are 457 NAV offices spread around Norway’s municipalities and city districts. 

Each municipality has its own agreement with NAV stipulating which services the local NAV office should offer. This means NAV offices offer different services in different municipalities.

History

NAV (which was originally short for "ny arbeids- og velferdsforvaltning", or New Labour and Welfare Administration) was established on 1 July 2006 with the merging of Aetat (the Labour Administration) and the National Insurance Service. Social services retains responsibility for their tasks in accordance with the law on social services.

Source: Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian)